Gas holder



Jan. 1s, 1929. 1,699,162

.1.41.l L.. sAN'ros' P11911 Ju1y'1o, 192'8 s1 s2 55 S9 2 aww-nto'.

l @am awww Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

f .N 1,699,162N PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN RIcARns LONG sANTos, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AssTeNOR TO THE BART-` LETT IIAYWARD COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION or HARYLAND.

GAS HOLDER.

. Application filed lTilly 10,

This invention relates to metallic structures and particularly to gas holders of the so-called waterless type in which a diaphragm or piston moves upward bodily in a structure of generally polygonal form. Such structures as ordinarily built include columns at the angular junction ofeach pair of side walls and as heretofore constructed these columns have projected slightly within the line of the walls producing interruptions in the general contour of the interior of the gas holder which greatly complicate the sealing or packing of the joint between the piston and thewalls of the gas holder. I

The purpose of the present invention is to produce a structure adapted tor commercial use and avoidingithe above defect.

Generally stated, use is made of a column having a web or webs bounded by marginal flanges. For example an Lbeam is the `simplest form and is preferred but other girder and column sections having similar characteristics are well known and are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.`

With these columns are used wall units of i channel section. These might be conventional channels but in the preferred form ofthe device assume a special configuration which will be explained. These wall units are assembled horizontally with their flanges abutting and riveted together and with the ends of their webs abutting the inner flanges of the columns. In this wayl a flush joint is produced between the "Webs `of the wall sections and the inner flanges ofthe columns and these flush joints are welded producing a gas-tight structure with a virtually smooth internal wall.l 1

`In order to brace each of the wall sections to the column section a box-like connector unit is used comprising a platehaving Inarginal flanges on three sides. This connector is dimensioned to ll the channel of the wall section at the end thereof and to lap one of the r channel faces of the inner flange of the column and abut against the web. The parts so far described are connected by rivets which pass exclusively through the flanges of the wall units and the connectors and through the web portion of the column. There are thus no rivets extending through tothe interior face of the wall of the gas holder.

The structure is further braced by connecting the extremities of the flanges of the wall 1928. Serial No. 291,615.

ferred construction is illustrated by showing i one column and the abutting portion of two adjacent vertical series of wall sections. It

will be understood, however, thatthe complete holder structure is made up of a plurality of spaced columns with intervening `wall sections. Ordinarily the spacing of the this is notnecessarily columns is uniform but the case.

In the drawing, i y Figure 1 is a horizontal section; 4and Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view.

The column consists of a. heavy I-section 6 made up asusual of a web 7 and' tapered flanges 8. Each wall section isnof general channel form and comprises a web portion 9 y which, when assembled, forms the major por.-

tion of the wall of the gas holder; a relativef ly short lower flange 11; a wide upper flange `12; and a combined stiffener and drip flange 13. f

The wall sections are bent up are not as here illustrated rolledsections.

The column 6 is a rolled section. i The wall sections are assembledwith` the flange 11 of one section resting on the flange 12 of the next lower and the webs 9 of the secof plate and aap` tions Hush with eachother and presented toward the interior of the tank. The ends of the webs 9 of the wall sections are welded as inforced by pressed steel stiflener plates, indicated generally by the numeral 15, applied to the main plate portion. These stifl'ener plates are generally rectangular in shape and are formed with a continuous flange 16` extending around three sides ofthe plate.

The plate 15 lies against the web 9 with thel flange 16 at the top and bottom abuttingthe flanges 11 and 12. The web 8 is so formed relatively to the thickness of the wallunit 9 and the angle between suc-h wall units that each plate l5 lies flush against the channel side of the web 8.

Furthermore, that portion of the flange 16 which abuts the web 7 of the column is set at an appropriate angle so as to seat over V its entire face against the Web. The Wall sections'iare connected by rivets 17, certain of which pass only through the flanges 11 and 12 and others of which pass through these flangesand also-through the flanges 16 of tivo adjacent connector plates 15. There are also rivets 18 which pass through the flanges 16 of tivo connector plates 15 and also through the intervening web 7 of the column.

In order to tie the structure t-ogether strapsI- 19 are riveted at 21 to the outside flange of the column 6 and at 22 to the stiffener` flange 13.

The flanges 12 are dimensioned to accommodate the tie 19 as is clearly shown in Fi gure 1.

Other means for connectingthe flange 13 with the outer flanges 8 of thecoluinn might be substituted, the primary purpose being to secure angular bracing.

The structure above described presents a smooth surface on the interior of the gas holder being free of rivet heads and all other projections. While it is preferred to Weld the joint 14 any procedure which would sealv this joint satisfactorily might be substituted for the Weld. The Weld, however, contributes to the strength of the structure and. is preferred.

Obviously various changes might be made in the'details of the structure and the embodiment described is to be considered as illustrative rather than limiting. For example, While it is preferred to use Wherever possible an I-beam for the column G so dimensioned that the channel side of the flange 8 is inplane with the inner face of the web of the Wall section conditions may be encountered Where this is impracticable. Obviously it is not strictly essential because the pressed steel connector plates 15 can be so formed with offsets as to fit any desired flanged contour. Nor is it strictly necessary that it fit the contour of the flange S. In other Words, although there has been shown a construction in which the channel face of the flange 8 is in plane with the Web of the Wall section 9 it is not regarded as being strictly essential to the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a gas holder structure, the combination of acolumn having a web with a marginal'flange; channel-shaped Wall sections assembled in horizontal relation With their flanges abutting and with the ends of the Webs abutting the ange of the column and Welded thereto; and bracing means for con.- necting the flanges of the Wall sections With the Web of the column.

2. In a gas holder structure, the combination ofa column having a web and marginal flanges; a plurality of channel-shaped VWall secti'onsassembled in horizontal relation with their flanges abutting and the ends of their Webs` abutting one flange of. the column and Welded thereto; and bracing means connecting flanges of the Wall sections with the web and with the other flange of the column.

3. In a holder structure, the combination of a column having a weband` marginal flanges; a plurality of channelshaped Wall sections assembled in horizontal relation with their flanges abutting and the ends ol their webs abutting one flange of the column and: welded thereto and bracing means connecting flanges of the Wall sections with the other flange of the column.

4. In a gas holder structure, the co1nbination of a column having' a web and a mar ginal flange;` channel-shaped Wall sections assembled With their flanges abutting and the ends of their Webs abutting the flange of the column and Welded thereto; connector plates each flanged on three edges, each fillingthe channel at the ends of the Wall sections and lapping the innerface Vof a flange of the column and` abutting the web of the column: and rivets passing through the flanges of the Wall sections and` connector plates and through a flange of the connector plates and the Web of thecolumn.

5. In a gas holder structure, the combination of a column having a Web with marginal flanges; channel-shapedivall sections assem bled? with their flanges abutting and the ends of their Webs abutting the inner flange of the column and Welded flush thereto; connector plates having flanges on three edges, each connector plate filling thechannel at the ends of the Wall sections, lapping the channel face of the inner flange on the column and abutting the Web of the column; rivets passing through the flanges of the Wall sections and connector plates and through a flange of the connectorplates and the web of the col umn; and means connecting the flanges of the Wall sections With the outer flange of the column.

6. A gas holder structure comprising in combination, a column of Lsection; substantially horizontally extending channel-section Wall units assembled Witlrtheir flanges abutting and directed outward and with th eirwvebs flush and Welded flush to the inner flanges of thecolumn; flanged braces engaging the Webs and flanges of the wall sections andthe Web and' inner flange of the column; and connectors serving tohold the above enumerated parts together and passing exclusively through the flanges of the Wall sections and connectors and through the web of the column.

7. A gas holder structure comprising in combination, a column of I-section; substantially horizontally extending cliannel-ction Wall units assembled with their flanges abutting and directed outward and with their Webs flush and Welded flush to the inner flanges of' the column; flanged braces engagingV the Websandl flanges of the wall sections and the web and inner flange of the column; and means connecting flanges of the wall sections with the outer flanges of the columns.

8. A gas holder structure comprising in combination; a column of' I-section; substantially horizontally extending channel-section wall units assembled with their flanges abutting and directed outward and with their Webs flush and welded flush to the inner flanges of the column; flanged braces engaging the webs and flanges of the wall sections and the web and inner flange of the column; and stays connecting flanges of aligned Wall sections with the outer flanges of the column and with each other.

9. In a gas holder structure, the combination of a column having a web and marginal flanges; a plurality of channel-shaped wall sections assembled 1n horizontal relation with their flanges abutting and the ends of their webs abutting one flange of the column and forming a sealed joint therewith; and bracing means connecting flanges of the wall sections with the web and with the other flange of the column.

10. In a vas holder structure, the combination of a coumn having a web and a marginal flange; channel-shaped wall sections assembled Wth their flanges abutting and the ends of their webs abutting the flange of the co1- nmn and forming a sealed joint therewith; connector plates each flanged on three edges, each filling the channel at the ends of the Wall sections and lapping the inner face of a flange ol the column and abutting the web of the column; and rivets passing through the flanges of the Wall sections and connector plates and through a flange of the connector plates and the web ofV the column.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 40 name to this specification.

JOHN RICARDS LONG SANTOS. 

